This Kerala Gram Panchayat will not issue you a marriage certificate if your wedding is not "green"

A grama panchayat in Kerala has said that they will not issue marriage certificates to any couple marrying in their jurisdiction unless the couple ensures that their wedding ceremony is environment-friendly.

A gram panchayat in Kerala has launched a praise-worthy initiative according to which, they will not issue marriage certificates to any couple marrying in their jurisdiction unless the couple ensures that their wedding ceremony is environment-friendly.

With a population of close to 24,000 people, the Kolayadu gram panchayat has urged all of its followers to curb the generation of non-biodegradable waste on a day to day basis, reported The News Minute.

As part of the same initiative, couples who live in the panchayat's jurisdiction and are planning to get married, have been asked to ensure that they make all possible efforts to reduce plastic waste.

Considering the fact that weddings generate a large amount of non-biodegradable waste, the gram panchayat has asked the couples to abide by the green protocol. Failure to do so would mean that the couples will be denied their marriage certificate.

According to reports, the panchayat has now insisted on a document from a ward member attesting to the fact that the wedding was indeed free of plastic.

In November of last year, the gram panchayat launched the initiative naming it "Malinyamillatha Mangalayam" which roughly translates to 'a wedding without waste'.

Suresh, president of the Kolayadu panchayat, said that the body issued a notification in order to legitimise the initiative. Apart from this, the Kolayadu Panchayat is currently indulging in several other initiatives with an aim to curb the carbon footprint of all the villages that fall under its jurisdiction.

According to their green protocol, the use of plastic for any function is not permissible. In addition, they have also asked the wedding organisers to take prior permission from the panchayat if the wedding guest list exceeds 100 people. They have also restricted the use of plastic to serve food or as part of the decoration.

The protocol dictates to-be-married couples and their families to approach the panchayat and understand the ways in which they can limit their plastic consumption. In order to establish that the wedding is abiding by the green protocol, the panchayat will put up a banner at the venue proclaiming the wedding to be "green".

This Kerala Gram Panchayat will not issue you a marriage certificate if your wedding is not "green"Description:A grama panchayat in Kerala has said that they will not issue marriage certificates to any couple marrying in their jurisdiction unless the couple ensures that their wedding ceremony is environment-friendly.Times Now